The Times West Virginian

WVU Sports

September 4, 2010

WVU opens season today at 3:30 p.m.

By Bob Hertzel For the Times West Virginian

MORGANTOWN — The football is not the only thing that will be passed today when No. 24/25 West Virginia University opens its 2010 season against Division I-AA Coastal Carolina.

The Mountaineers will also pass the torch.

It goes from Jarrett Brown, of course still carrying the fingerprints of his predecessor Patrick White, to a cool, confident sophomore out of Miami’s Miramar High named Geno Smith.

Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. at Puskar Stadium, and there were tickets still available as of Friday.

All eyes will be on Smith as he debuts as a starter after pitching in relief five times last season as a true freshman, completing 32 of 49 passes for 308 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He comes forward with impeccable credentials and with much being expected of him, so much that even before he started a game someone asked him about the potential of breaking some of the quarterbacking records at West Virginia.

He would have none of it.

“It’s not about breaking records. For me, it’s about winning games,” he answered.

Opening games, of course, are difficult, even if they are barely more than exhibition games for a nationally ranked power against an overmatched opponent coming off a 5-6 season. And when you make them games with a quarterback making his first start, anything can happen.

Pitt found that out on Thursday night when quarterback Tino Sunseri, making his first start as a sophomore, threw an interception in overtime that led to a defeat.

Smith, however, seems to be as ready as you can be and lacking in anything approaching anxiety.

“As far as the game goes, it’s just another game for us,” he said. “I don’t think it’s special. It’s a chance for me to show the people how much hard work I put in.”

He understands that there will be some emotion, the crowd rocking, a team wearing a different colored jersey across the line of scrimmage for the first time since January.

“I’ll probably have mixed emotions. I’ll probably be a little bit anxious, but I’ll calm myself down. When the time comes to play I’ll be ready. I want to continue to progress as the season goes along,” he said. “You have to control your emotions so that when the time comes to play, you’re not overzealous.”

Being calm is one thing, but coach Bill Stewart wants to make sure that his new quarterback is aggressive, not sitting back trying to avoid making mistakes. He wants him to lay claim to the team in the locker room, in the huddle and on the field.

“This year, now that Jarrett Brown is gone, it’s his team. Whoever our quarterback is, it is his team to guide. That is the kind of mindset Geno needs to get. This is his team,” Stewart said.

“I want Geno to play fearless and I want him to lead. I want him to get in that huddle and command respect. That is what all the great quarterbacks do; they command that presence.”

Stewart says that much of his philosophy grows out of a chance pairing with former BYU and Chicago Bears’ quarterback Jim McMahon, as hard-driving a leader as has been in a huddle since the days of Bobby Layne with the Detroit Lions.

“I asked him, ‘What do I tell my young quarterback?’” Stewart recalled. “He said, ‘Well talk to me.’ So I talked to him. I said, ‘Move the sticks, don’t turn the ball over, don’t force the ball.’ (McMahon) said, ‘Well, you’re not real negative, but it’s all don’t, don’t, don’t. Have you told him to go get sevens and not threes?’”

Stewart took the lesson to heart.

“That’s what I’m going to tell him Saturday: ‘Go get sevens. Go.’” Stewart said.

Attack, that’s the word Stewart wants to hear.

“The goal of an offense is to attack, and the defense’s goal is to stop the attack,” Smith said. “You definitely don’t want to get too overconfident and cocky. You don’t want to be overconfident, just keep an even keel because you never know what can happen throughout the course of a game.”

Of course, Smith will have a lot of support. He still has Noel Devine running behind him, and Devine didn’t just come back to WVU for a senior season to go through the motions. He came back to go through holes, and if the offensive line has improved, it could be a huge year for Devine.

Smith also will have far more explosive and talented wide receivers to throw to than did Brown last year, with Jock Sanders also having come back off a 72-catch season, electric Tavon Austin starting out wide and a host of youngsters like Ivan McCartney, J.D. Woods and Stedman Bailey ready to step forward along with Brad Starks and a converted slotback, Coley White.

The defense is deep and experienced, although it must shake off injuries to linebacker Pat Lazear, who is listed as questionable with a knee/tibia injury on the Big East’s new injury report; safety Sidney Glover (questionable, knee) and Starks (questionable, groin).

J.T. Thomas, the senior linebacker and leader of the defense, is not on the injury list and will play.

E-mail Bob Hertzel at bhertzel@hotmail.com.

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